On paper, the Columbus High School football team’s Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 1 matchup against Hernando holds little significance.
Columbus (7-3, 5-1 region) has secured a first-round home playoff game against Warren Central or Clinton when the Class 6A postseason begins Nov. 13. Hernando (7-4, 2-4) will see its season end when the final horn sounds.
For the Falcons, though, this game is a really big deal.
“We are looking for our eighth win,” Columbus junior quarterback C.J. Gholar said. “I think that means a lot. We take pride in how great this season has been. We want to go that extra mile though and get that eighth win.”
Columbus won a school-record 10 games in 2000. Six times, the Falcons have won seven games. A victory Friday night would give Columbus eight regular-season wins and a claim to finish as the second-best team in program history.
“Winning eight games would be a major accomplishment,” Columbus second-year coach Randal Montgomery said. “There have not been a lot of winning seasons around here. There have not been a lot of home playoff games around here. We take pride in each of those milestones. I think winning an eighth game in the regular season would be a really big deal.”
Columbus clinched one of the two home playoff berths in the region two weeks ago by defeating Olive Branch 46-20 at home. Columbus then saw its five-game region winning streak snapped with a 35-13 loss at No. 1 South Panola on Friday night.
The Falcons fought the Tigers, but they couldn’t overcome three turnovers (two on offense, one on special teams) and four running plays of 38 yards or greater.
“We have to do a better job with the big play,” Columbus sophomore cornerback Devon King said. “I think we have shown we can compete with anybody in the state. We just can’t give up the big play. We have given up a handful of them this year. Fortunately, we still have won most games. Against South Panola, it was different.”
Columbus junior running back Kylin Hill has rushed for a team-best 1,264 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hill has gone over 100 yards six times. Despite scoring twice against South Panola, a broken thumb affected his performance.
Hill feels Columbus can grow from the loss to South Panola. While winning an eighth game would be nice, he wants everyone to feel good again.
“We just need to have that winning feeling again,” Hill said. “It really doesn’t matter who we play next. We have to go out and do the things we need to do to be successful. You don’t want to go into the playoffs without momentum. We just want to walk off the field and be happy. I think that is the most important thing that can happen Friday night.”
Gholar said the team didn’t handle success well early in the season. However, the confidence increased as the victories mounted.
“After we won two region games, everybody realized we could really be special,” Gholar said. “I think that is when everybody worked a little harder. It’s human nature to turn it up a notch when you are playing for something.”
Thus, it stands to reason Friday night’s game — the only back-to-back road trips for Columbus — could be difficult.
“I think this is the perfect game,” Montgomery said. “You want to carry some confidence into the playoffs. Preferably you are ahead and you are resting players. Either way, you want to have that positive reinforcement. We have bounced back from losses really well all year. I look for that to continue.”
Columbus followed a loss to Noxubee County with a victory against New Hope. It followed a loss to West Point with a come-from-behind region win against DeSoto Central. Three weeks later, Columbus erased a 10-0 halftime deficit to beat Southaven 20-10.
Suddenly, Columbus moved from being the hunter to the hunted.
“That game gave us the confidence we could do anything,” Gholar said.
The confidence grew even in the loss to South Panola.
“We competed with the best team in the state,” King said. “We were two or three plays away. You wake up the next day and feel good about that.”
Columbus will need all of the positive momentum it can generate before facing one of the toughest Class 6A North State playoff brackets. If Starkville beats Clinton on Friday night at home, Columbus’ playoff path could include Clinton (7-3), Starkville (9-1), and South Panola (10-0).
“The kids were in a four-quarter game against South Panola,” Montgomery said. “I think they grew from that. We aren’t going to back down from anybody. These kids believe. If nothing else, we have accomplished that this season. That’s a big deal.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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